LOOKING at them, you might think Elliot Minor are the type of lads you’d cross the road to avoid. But the minute they open their mouths, it’s clear they’re more likely to help you with your shopping than land themselves an ASBO.

Five classically trained music students, between them they play the violin, piano, clarinet, cello, double bass, saxophone, guitar and drums.

Singer Alex Davies, keyboard player Alistair Paul and Dan and Ed Hetherton (brothers who play drums and bass) met as choristers at the Minster School in York before joining the band. Alex introduced his old school pal, guitarist Ed Minton (himself former head chorister of St John's College, Cambridge), and Elliot Minor was born.

They won a competition hosted by McFly through MySpace, and launched supporting them in Newcastle to an audience of more than 13,000. There they were spotted by an agent and signed to Repossession Records.

“We’d spent so long honing our craft, developing our songwriting and travelling around the country carrying our gear in the back of our cars doing gigs,” says Alex. “Signing that deal affirmed that our self-belief was justified and that the sacrifices we’d made would pay off.”

From that point on, Elliot Minor’s career ascended at a frenetic pace. Their self-titled debut album hit number six in the charts as the third highest new entry of the week and a succession of singles – Parallel Worlds, Jessica and Still Figuring It Out – launched themselves into the upper reaches of the charts.

“Obviously we really enjoy being in the charts and we really appreciate that our fans make the effort to buy our records,” says the ever-affable Alex. “But we’re a live band, that’s what we’ll be remembered for and that’s where we’ve come from.”

They’re looking forward to playing Liverpool, it seems.

“We always have a great time in Liverpool,” says Ali. “Audiences up north are always more responsive. Plus, we have a great night out in Liverpool. We’re from York, which is so much smaller, so going out is amazing.”

They’ve already played Download, T in the Park, Reading / Leeds, Oxegen and Wakestock, as well as support gigs with Fallout Boy and Simple Plan.

“It’s real honour to play these festivals – we’ve shared a bill with some of the biggest bands around – some of the biggest bands of all time,” enthuses Alex.

The influence of the likes of Green Day, Blink 182 and NOFX shines through their rollicking melodies, infectious choruses and soaring vocal harmonies, but the band’s sound stretches far beyond pigeonholing of the pop-punk genre.

“Our songs are often based on the kind of harmonies you’d find in classical music. I’d say that John Williams, James Horner and Eric Rigler are as important influences as any rock band,” explains Alex. “When you combine that with the power and aggression of a live band, it’s clear that we offer something different.”

For now, they’re busy working on that ever-tricky second album.

“Our first album was written over a period of five years and many different influences,” says Alex. “To pull from my recent experiences and having the time pressure to write an album was a new approach and one that was long hours, accepting and rejecting ideas but also allowing myself to go off into fantasies to pull the ideas from.”

Eliott Minor play the Liverpool, O2 Academy on July 2. Tickets from 08444 77 2000 or www.o2academyliverpool.co.uk.